How to Determine the Correct Rise Ball Mount that will Clear the Spare Tire on a 2005 Jeep Liberty

Expert Reply:

In order to choose the ball mount that will clear the spare tire and have enough rise or drop for your 2005 Jeep Liberty, you will need to take a few measurements. These measurements can be different on each vehicle depending on the brand of trailer hitch that you have installed and the size of the spare tire on your Jeep.

To determine the length that you will need to clear the spare tire, you will want to measure from the center of the hitch pin hole on your trailer hitch to the furthest point of your spare tire. I have attached a photo showing this measurement. The ball mount, # D-28, that you referenced measures 14-1/4 inches from the center of the hitch pin hole to the center of the hitch ball.

To determine the correct rise or drop that you will need in a ball mount, you will need to consider the coupler height of the trailer that you are towing as well. To determine the correct rise or drop, you should measure from the ground to the top of your trailer hitch receiver and from the ground to the bottom of the trailer coupler. The difference between these two measurements will tell you the correct rise or drop that you will need in a ball mount. I have attached a help article on measuring your ball mount for you to check out.

You may also be interested in an adjustable ball mount like the Convert-A-Ball Adjustable Ball Mount, # TK5007, if you ever plan on towing multiple trailers. This ball mount has a maximum drop of 10 inches and a maximum rise of 9 inches.

click to enlarge

expert reply by: John H

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